Safety sideline marker



Oct. 26, 1965 ca. c. JENKINS SAFETY SIDELINE MARKER Filed Dec. 28, 1964 ATTORNE United States Patent 3,213,824 SAFETY SIDELINE MARKER Gary Clark Jenkins, 1818 th Ave. 8., Great Falls, Mont. Filed Dec. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 421,243 9 Claims. (Cl. 116-114) This invention is a novel safety sideline marker particularly adapted for use by linesmen along the sidelines of football fields, or like fields, to denote yardage, but may be used in other desired places.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a safety sideline marker consisting, of a tube of usual marker height, having its lower end protected by an external resilient ring or sleeve of rubber or the like, and having slidably mounted therein within prescribed limits a steel or other spike operated by a footbar covered by a rubber sleeve and extending through an elongated slot in the slide of the lower end of the tube, the spike having its lower end shaped to conical form constituting the ground engaging point of the marker, the slot in the tube being so disposed that the spike may be normally retracted entirely within the length of the tube, but when the footbar is depressed by the foot of the linesman the conical portion of the spike will be projected below the lower end of the tube so that the point of the spike will engage the ground surface, the spike being normally retracted within the tube when the footbar is not depressed by means of a stretchable rope of rubber or the like having its ends secured to the spike and to a cap on the upper end of the tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety sideline marker of the above type so designed that when no downward pressure is exerted upon the footbar the stretchable rope will retract the tapered spike up into the tube, thus preventing any injury that could happen if a player fell, slid or ran into the sharp point of the spike if the spike were rigidly fixed to the bottom of the tube in the usual manner.

The purpose of my safety marker is to provide protection to the thousands of football players, coaches and school children throughout the United States. Realizing that the pointed ends of the usual field and sideline markers are potentially dangerous, my novel safety marker is believed to be an improvement over those markers now in use, since my safety marker will prevent injury because the spike will be normally retracted upwardly when foot pressure is released from the footbar, and the footbar on my safety marker has a rubber protective sleeve or covering to prevent any scrapes or cuts; and thus it is believed that players, coaches and school children will welcome the availability of this improved safety marker.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one practical embodiment thereof, to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and I will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of my novel safety sideline marker.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section therethrough showing the pointed spike in normal retracted position entirely within the tube.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the spike projected downwardly in the tube to bring the pointed end of the spike into ground-engaging or operative position.

As shown, my novel safety sideline marker comprises i a tube 1 of the usual length of football sideline markers,

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the same having around its lower open end a rubber sleeve or ring 2, the purpose of the sleeve being to prevent injury which might occur to players or others who might fall, slide or run into the lower end of the bar from any injury by the tube if the lower metallic edge were exposed.

In the tube adjacent the lower end is a vertical elongated slot 1a in which slides a footbar 3, which extends laterally beyond the tube 1 and has its inner end anchored in a steel spike 4 of diameter to suit the internal diameter of the tube 1 so that the spike 4 may make a sliding fit within the tube. Preferably the footbar 3 is covered with a rubber sleeve 5 to prevent injury to players or the like who might fall, slide or run into the footbar during playing of the game.

The spike 4 is preferably formed of steel and the lower end portion 4a thereof is formed to conical shape terminating in a point. At the top of the spike 4 is welded an eyelet 6, and an extensible rope 7 of rubber or the like has its lower end looped through the eyelet 6 and clamped thereto by clip 8. The upper end of the extensible rubber rope 7 is passed through and looped in an eyelet 9 welded to the underside of a cap 10, the loop being secured by means of a clip 11 similar to the clip 8. In this manner the elasticity of the rope 7 will normally retract the spike 4 within the tube 1 into the position shown in FIG. 2. However, when the linesman places his foot on the footbar 3-5, the steel spike 4 will be projected downwardly of the tube 1 into the position shown in FIG. 3, wherein the point of the spike will engage the ground surface, the movement of the spike 4 being limited by the engagement of the footbar 3 with the ends of the slot 1a.

The cap 10 need not necessarily be threaded onto the tube 1 since the resiliency of the rope 7 will normally maintain the cap positioned at the top of the tube. If desired, the cap 10 may be provided with the usual marker 12, and the lower end of the tube provided with an eyelet 13 for attachment thereto of the usual yardage chain which extends between the pair of line markers.

In operation, the pointed end of the spike 4 will be exposed only when the linesman steps upon the footbar 3-5 and will remain exposed only while the footbar is so depressed. As soon as the linesmans foot is removed from the footbar 35 the rope 7 will immediately retract the pointed end of the spike into the position shown in FIG. 2, in which position the point is retracted entirely within the tube 1.

The purpose of the safety marker is to provide protection to the thousands of football players, coaches and school children throughout the United States. Realizing that the pointed ends of other field and sideline markers are potentially dangerous, my safety marker is believed to be an improvement over those markers now in use. My safety marker will prevent injury for the reason that my spike will be retracted upwardly when pressure is released from the footbar. The footbar on my safety marker has a rubber protective covering 5 to prevent any scrapes or cuts, and the lower end of the tube 1 is also provided with a rubber ring 2, both of which constitute safety features.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawing, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A safety sideline marker comprising a tube; a member slidably mounted within the lower end of the tube and having its lower end conically pointed, a footbar extending laterally from said member and slidably engaging a longitudinal slot in the side of the tube, said slot being of such length that when the footbar is depressed to engage the lower end of the slot the pointed end of the member will be extended below the lower end of the tube, and when the footbar engages the upper end of the slot the pointed end will be retracted within the lower end of the tube; and a stretchable rope within the tube having its ends fixed to the tube and to the member respectively and normally maintaining the pointed end of said member in retracted position within the tube.

2. In a marker as set forth in claim 1, a rubber sleeve enveloping said footbar beyond the tube.

3. In a marker as set forth in claim 1, a rubber ring around the lower end of the tube.

4. In a marker as set forth in claim 1, eyes fixed to the tube and member respectively receiving the looped ends of said rope; and clips securing said loops.

5. A safety sideline marker comprising a tube; a cap at the upper end of the tube; a member slidably mounted within the lower end of the tube and having its lower end conically pointed; a footbar extending laterally from said member and slidably engaging a longitudinal slot 20 tended below the lower end of the tube, and when the footbar engages the upper end of the slot the pointed en-d will be retracted within the lower end of the tube; and a stretchable rope Within the tube having its ends fixed to the cap and to the member respectively and normally maintaining the pointed end of said member in retracted position within the tube.

6. In a marker as set forth in claim 5, a rubber sleeve enveloping said footbar beyond the tube.

7. In a marker as set forth in claim 5, a rubber ring around the lower end of the tube.

I 8. In a marker as set forth in claim 5, said cap having a peripheral flange receiving the upper end of the tube, and 'said cap being retained on the tube by the said stretchable rope.

9. In a marker as set forth in claim 5, eyes fixed to the cap and member respectively receiving the looped ends of said rope; and clips securing said loops.

No references cited.

LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. 

5. A SAFETY SIDELINE MARKER COMPRISING A TUBE; A CAP AT THE UPPER END OF THE TUBE; A MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED WITHIN THE LOWER END OF THE TUBE AND HAVING ITS LOWER END CONICALLY POINTED; A FOOTBAR EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM SAID MEMBER AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING A LONGITUDINAL SLOT IN THE SIDE OF THE TUBE, SAID SLOT BEING OF SUCH LENGTH THAT WHEN THE FOOTBAR IS DEPRESSED TO ENGAGE THE LOWER END OF THE SLOT THE POINTED END OF THE MEMBER WILL BE EXTENDED BELOW THE LOWER END OF THE TUBE, AND WHEN THE FOOTBAR ENGAGES THE UPPER END OF THE SLOT THE POINTED END WILL BE RETRACTED WITHIN THE LOWER END OF THE TUBE; AND A STRETCHABLE ROPE WITHIN THE TUBE HAVING ITS END FIXED TO THE CAP AND TO THE MEMBER RESPECTIVELY AND NORMALLY MAINTAINING THE POINTED END OF SAID MEMBER IN RETRACTED POSITION WITHIN THE TUBE. 